Box Score Crookston, MN – Behind the devastating 1-2 frontcourt punch of Kaitlyn Haag and Linda Murray, the University of Mary women's basketball team crushed the University of Minnesota 72-51. The two Marauders post players combined to score 30 points and pull down 17 rebounds as U-Mary pulled within a game of second place in the Northern Sun.
 
Haag led U-Mary with 16 points in a 21 minute stint off the bench. The sophomore forward also pulled down nine rebounds. In just 13 minutes due to early foul trouble, Murray scored 14 points and corralled eight rebounds. The pair made a combined 13-of-23 shots from the field and went 4-of-5 at the free throw line.
 
A close game at intermission with the Marauders holding a 32-30 advantage, U-Mary's offense was fairly unstoppable in the second half. The Marauders hit half their shots after the break, including a 6-of-12 effort on three point attempts, and outscored the Golden Eagles 40-21.
 
Murray and Kayla Schmidt paced the Marauders second half onslaught as both players scored 12 points. Schmidt did all her work from downtown, draining four treys in eight chances. McKenzie Foster nailed two treys and scored eight after the break.
 
The Marauders broke the game open with a 20-4 run to start the second half. Foster and Schmidt both hit two three-pointers during the run. U-Mary would eventually lead by as many as 28 points late in the game.
 
Schmidt posted all 12 of her points and her four assists after intermission. The senior guard also snared five rebounds. Foster was the fourth Marauders player in double figures, chipping in 11 points off the bench. Shaunna Knife had another strong defensive effort with 11 rebounds and two blocks.
 
Megan Eul scored 19 points for UMC, the only Golden Eagles player to score more than seven points.
 
The Marauders defense, ranked eighth in the nation in shooting percentage defense, lived up to the national ranking by limiting the Golden Eagles to a 25.7 per cent shooting effort from the field. U-Mary clicked along at 45 per cent.
 
U-Mary held a 40-18 edge in points in the paint, a 32-13 advantage in points off the bench, and pulled down 54 rebounds to 38 for UMC.
 
The Marauders improve to 15-5 overall and 12-4 in the Northern Sun, standing all alone in third place and one game behind Augustana for second. The Golden Eagles slip to 8-11 and 5-10.
 
The weekend road trip for the Marauders concludes at MSU Moorhead on Saturday, February 4, at MSU Moorhead.
 
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